"Exciting romantic mystery"

Beauty saloon owner Marla Shore lives and toils in Fort Lauderdale. She also works for an organization that tries to make home swimming pools safe for children because she witnessed the drowning death of a child. When it comes to pool safety, Marla will do anything, even investigating homicides involving clients.

Marla applies for a trial membership at Perfect Fit Sports Club. On the night she enrolls, a swimming pool client dies in the sports club's whirlpool. The post mortem toxicology reveals the victim's blood stream contained a strong sedative. Marla knows this woman would never risk medication just prior to entering the heated whirlpool. Unable to resist, Marla interferes with the official police investigation to quickly learn that many members and the staff prefer having the victim dead.

Nancy J. Cohen has written another romantic mystery starring delightful characters from her previous novels in this lighthearted amateur sleuth series. The story line is fun due to Marla's machinations. However, the plot works because so many suspects exist, which leads to readers making MURDER BY MANICURE a one sitting experience to learn who did it and why.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 3, 2001

Summary

Hairstylist Marla Shore is chewing her nails over her latest dilemma. She's joined a fitness club to get in shape, but more than her abs tighten when a member is murdered. To complicate matters, Detective Dalton Vail disapproves of the charade she's playing to help a friend. She'd better polish her act, or she'll be the next one who ends up in the dead file.